Hugging

By Lapaka

Hugging has always been an awkward thing for me and I tried to avoid them as much as possible. I guess one of the reasons I have avoided them was due to what someone close to me once told me, that I give the weirdest hugs ever. That person was probably just joking but the power I gave those few words closed the door to one of the most amazing intimate human acts. The perfectionist in me decided I'm going to avoid hugs like a plague which I have successfully done for the past 7 to 8 years. Unfortunately I couldn't really avoid them all together so I would usually have a hug quota for the year which was about four hugs per year. However the most amazing thing happened to me a few weeks ago.

I was standing in a queue in a supermarket. I met someone I have not seen in over 10 years, we happened to be just Facebook friends because we are from the same town and we went to the same primary school. I greeted him and he replied with stretched out arms and embraced me in a hug, in my head I was thinking one to go three more for the year left. Usually my hugs lasted less then two seconds (that's how fast I want it to end). This one was different, two seconds went by and in my head I was thinking what the…??  I was not used to what was happening, the guy wouldn't let go, so I decided not to push him away but to just let the hug run it's course. Than I moved from being uncomfortable to feeling comfortable and safe in an instant (how that happened I do not know). Finally for the first time in my life I understood why people give each other hugs. Without words spoken I felt a deep sense of love, support and kindness.

I tend to think that perhaps the one of the reasons I find hugging weird simply intimacy it provides, the kind of intimacy I wasn't comfortable with and wasn't sure how to handle.

Well on that day I remember my mind being preoccupied by many things, I run into the shop with the intention to grab one item and rushing back home, however after that hug I felt at peace, it felt like all the troubles I had at that moment had miraculously disappeared and started to look insignificant, much smaller then I had originally thought. It was one of the most amazing hugging experiences (if u can call it that) I have ever had, I can still feel that positive energy just thinking about it. I have thus decided to ditch my 'hug quota' and start giving my weird hugs as they will come from a place of love, if I can make one person feel the way that hug left me feeling than I would have done my part. 

Research has shown that deep hugs have the following benefits:

1. The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication.
2. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.
3. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
4. Hugs strengthen the immune system.
5. Hugging boosts self-esteem.
6. Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.
7. Hugs balance out the nervous system. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance.
8. Hugs teach us how to give and receive. There is equal value in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and sharing. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways.
9. Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present in the moment. They encourage us to flow with the energy of life. Hugs get you out of your circular thinking patterns and connect you with your heart and your feelings and your breath.
10. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship.

So if you are like me and get weirded out by hugs, think of those benefits before pulling away from that warm embrace.

Blessed Wednesday 

African Prints

Went to Ghana almost a month ago (will post about it later). And I fell in love with everything African. And if course I came back with lots of fabrics. Like who goes to the meca of African Fabrics and doesn't come with any right? I almost went nuts choosing which to buy. Too many options.. So busy looking for ideas of what to make with them. :)

National Day of Prayer

Passion killing has been on an increase in our country, I have written about it before here. 

Today 06 March 2014, The Government of the Republic of Namibia has declared the day as a National Day of Prayer on Gender Based Violence country wide. All religious denominations throughout the country are invited to take part in the prayer. National Day of Prayer is being held all over the country in all the 14 regions.

In Windhoek, the National Day of Prayer will be held at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura at 10H00 and His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia will address the nation.  

In the past months there has been an increasing incidents of Gender Based Violence (Passion Killings) including murder and rape reported in the country and the Government decided to declare a National Day of Prayer to ask for divine intervention on Gender Based Violence in the country.

This mass gathering is history in the making for Namibia, for the first time in our history (at least that I can remember) were people from different religious denominations are gathering, sitting and praying together for a common goal. The prayer section in Windhoek will host an Iman of Muslim Faith, a Pastor of Christian and a Rabbi of Jewish faith. At 13h00 Bells will ring in all Churches and Mosques through out the country.  

The National day of Prayer was been a controversial topic, some debating whether or not payer will decrease the killings particularly against women in this country (there are some male victims too), but one can only pray and have faith that God will listen to our prayers and a few hearts will be changed in the process.  

May all those that lost their lives rest in peace and their families be comforted by the grave of God.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2nd Chronicles 7:14